Q: Describe the product?
A: Scyon™ Matrix cladding is an exterior cladding system with a geometric expressed joint look. Fast and simple to install, Matrix cladding is the commercial look without the commercial price tag.
Q: What applications can it be used in?
A: Its suitable for external cladding in residential single and medium density homes, including alterations and additions, and internal feature walls, wherever a modern design is required. Its ideal for full wrap or composite construction designs on either timber or light gauge steel framed homes.
Q: What options are offered?
A: Matrix cladding comes pre-primed in four sizes 2990mm x 1190, 1190mm x 1190mm, 2390mm x 390mm and 1790mm x 890mm.
Q: How does it’s make the builders life easier?
A: Well, its simple to install. Instead of needing the steel top hats associated with many commercial systems that give a similar expressed joint look, Matrix cladding sheets are installed with Scyon™ cavity trim battens. To add to this, Matrix cladding can be fixed to the cavity trim with C25 16 gauge 304 stainless steel brad nails and James Hardie® joint sealant. The expressed joint is created easily using a 10mm packer. Sheets are sanded smooth and pre-primed for fast paint application and a high quality finish.
Queensland builder Mathew Nouwens says “Scyon Matrix cladding gained us considerable cost savings” when it was used on their custom design home Scarborough 2, that was completely designed around lightweight construction. Nouwens says that “by selecting products that were simple to install and easy to finish we were able to reduce the number of trades involved and construction costs.”
Q: What about design flexibility?
A: A variety of patterns can be created from the various cladding size options, including vertical and horizontal stripes and geometric patterns. Sanded sheets give a flat, smooth finish and digital printing can add even more design options. Matrix cladding’s resistance to cracking, warping and swelling* means it can be painted both dark and light colours. The option of brad nailing minimises visual interruption.
Q: What is the product made of?
A: Scyon Matrix cladding is made from 8mm thick Scyon, the advanced lightweight cement composite with heavy- duty performance. It’s the brainchild of James Hardie's research and development team, created with ease of installation in mind. Scyon brings advanced building technology to the houses of today, with an eye on tomorrow. Not only is Scyon resistant to damage from termites, rot and fire*, but it can also be gun nailed and is easy to cut — like timber.
* When installed and maintained correctly and to the extent set out in James Hardie’s published literature current at the time of installation.
Q: Does the product have any ratings?
A: It enhances energy efficiency. When Matrix cladding is used with the right insulation (and in accordance with James Hardie’s Wall System Thermal Performance Total R-Values Technical Supplement), an R-value of up to 3.4 can be achieved for the wall. The ability to use a cavity construction system adds to energy efficiency and helps moisture management.
Q: Is the product environmentally friendly? If so, how?
A: Scyon Matrix cladding is;
• made from benign raw materials low in toxicity;
• low in embodied energy relative to many other building products like masonry and concrete; that’s the energy consumed by all of the processes associated with the production of the product.
• easy to incorporate into practical building systems that touch the earth lightly;
• very durable and low maintenance which helps create buildings low in lifetime energy consumption;
• able to be used to create energy efficient and thermally comfortable buildings in any Australian climate (when used in the right design);
• low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Q: How does the product compare to similar products?
A: It delivers a commercial look without the commercial price tag. Beautifully balanced facades with distinctive geometric patterns were once confined to commercial applications. Now this highly desirable look is available for residential use at a non-commercial price with Scyon Matrix cladding. The adaptation is made possible with Scyon, an advanced cement composite that makes Matrix cladding fast and easy to install.
Melbourne Architect Ed Ewers backs this up. Ewers used Matrix cladding in the renovation of a Victorian workers cottage in Richmond, Victoria. He said they “looked at a number of different cladding materials. Initially, the desire was to use an exotic material and at the time copper was the one we had our heart set on. Commodities were booming, copper was three or four times the price of Scyon Matrix cladding so in the end it was an easy decision to use the Matrix cladding and spend the money on something else.”
